Refrigerant cooler utilizing atmospheric condensate



March 3, 1959 J. W. KICE ET AL REFRIGERANT COOLER UTILIZING ATMOSPHERIC CONDENSA'I E Filed Sept. 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

March 3, 1959 J. w. KICE ET AL 7 2,875,593

REFRIGERANT COOLER UTILIZING ATMOSPHERIC CONDENSATE Filed Sept. 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS! March 3, 1959 J w, c ET AL REFRIGERANT COOLER UTILIZING ATMOSPHERIC CONDENSATE Filed Sept. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I i I l l I l I I i I 1 i R R K 1 VENTORS:

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REFRIGERANT COOLER UTILIZING ATMOSPHERIC CONDENSATE Filed Sept. 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 ATTORNEY5.

United States Patent REFRIGERANT COOLER UTILIZING ATMOS- PHERIC CONDENSATE Jack W. Kice and Charles D. Mattingly, Wichita, Kane, assignors to The Coleman Company, Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application September 25, 1953, Serial No. 382,272

Claims. (Cl. 62-280) This invention relates to air-treating apparatus and, more particularly, to a package type condenser, compressor and cooling unit for use in air conditioning systems and that may, if desired, be located remotely from the evaporator andbuilding space to be cooled.

A large percentage of homes today are generally small when compared to the needs of the family and space requirements are therefore at a premium. Although the purchase of airconditioning units to cool these homes may be within the economic capabilities of many of the families, the purchase of airconditioners is out of the question if, in addition to the cost of the apparatus, the installation thereof requires the building of enclosures to house the conditioning apparatus. With conventional airconditioning apparatus this may be necessary where the homes are small and already packed with the basic living needs. Many of such homes may have space remote from the area to be cooled as, for example, a garage or other similar structure, that is large enough to house a part of the conditioning apparatus if it is compact.

Further, the noise level of airconditioning apparatus is generallyhigh and is annoying and disturbing to those nearby. A great deal of such noise is caused by the refrigerant compressor and motor operating the same, and the fans, etc. that are used in the cooling of the condenser. If these units could be located remotely it would reduce the level of noise reaching the occupants of the conditioned space, and this would be a desirable end.

Moreover, economic operation of home airconditioning apparatus is an important factor in its salability. It has been found that a combination of forced air and a water spray for cooling the condenser coils is advan tageous and etficient. However, continuous running water discharged to waste after a single use can be expensive and, desirably, the recovery and reuse of excess water, that is, the amount of water not actually evaporated in cooling the condenser, is economically appropriate. Such an arrangement further makes it desirable to locate the condenser unit remotely from the evaporator and the space being cooled, and also makes it desirable to provide a sealed structure to prevent unwanted leakage of water therefrom, while at the same time the structure should be conveniently positioned so that con trolled drainage of water therefrom is readily permissible.

In addition to the advantages realized by reducing the operating costs, condensers would be placed within the purchasing capabilities of more families if the initial cost, cost of installation and maintenance cost were all reduced. A way to reduce all of these items is to as semble at the factory in compact units, a number of the operating parts required in an airconditioning system. Skilled technicians are readily available at the factory, and mass production techniques may be employed in the assembly operation. Therefore, in actual installation of a conditioning system skilled, technicians or only a limited number of skilled technicians would be required and thus 2,875,593 Patented Mar. 3, 1959 installation cost would be reduced. Further, if for example, a compact unit including a compressor, condenser and motors and blowers therefore were provided as a factory assembly operation, the elements could be adequately tested in their operative relationship to insure proper operation, then supplied with oil, refrigerant, dehydrated, etc. where the equipment and personnel is at hand, with the result that both installation and maintenance costs would be reduced.

Unfortunately, arrangements of this character appear to be unknown and commercially unavailable though there has long existed this need. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide apparatus that overcomes the difiiculties set out above, while providing the advantages indicated as being desirable. Another object of this invention is to provide a compact compressor and condenser unit and cooling means therefor for use in airconditioning apparatus, and that is adapted to be located remotely from the evaporated coils and building space to be cooled. Another object of the invention is to provide in such a remotely locatable unit a water supply and water turbulator or fogger in combination with a forced air supply for cooling the condenser. Still another object is in providing in such a remotely locatable unit having a turbulator, a closed housing to prevent water leakage while also providing means in the housing for collecting and reusing excess water and further providing means for skimming from the recovered water any collections or debris accumulated thereon.

A further object is to provide a removable pan or tray that provides a water reservoir from which water is sprayed upon the condenser coils by a fogger and that functions to recover and collect excess water dropping from the condenser coils; a water seal being provided automatically about the pan when it is in position Within the casing; inclined ramp means being provided to position automatically the pan in proper alignment when it is inserted within the casing; and a skimmer being carried in the pan for removing accumulations of debris from the surface of the recovered water in the pan. Still a further object is in the provision of a compact structural arrangement enclosed within a casing and in which is provided a compressor and condenser, removable water reservoir pan and water fogger, control circuit box having the necessary circuitry for actuating and controlling the operative members, and a fan for forcing air about the compressor and condenser. Yet a further object is to provide unique control circuits for the motors, etc. and that are mounted within the casing that encloses the elements in the condenser-compressor unit. Additional objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a perspective view with portions of the casing broken away to show the interior thereof and the elements enclosed thereby; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane just below the top cover wall of the casing illustrated in Fig. 1, and in which the elements within the casing are shown in plan; Fig. 3 is a broken vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the pan in partially removed position; Fig. -4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the water pan in position within the casing; Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of a control circuit for the apparatus; and Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram showing a modified type of control circuit.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it is seen that a casing 10 is provided having end' walls, side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall that provide a compartment 11 within the casing. The casing 10 is equipped at one end with air inlet openings 12, 13 and 14, and these openemployed herein will not be set out.

ings may be closed or covered by louvered grilles or panels. At its opposite end, the casing is equipped with an air outlet or discharge opening having secured thereto an upwardly-extending duct 16 that carries air forced through the casing outwardly and upwardly therefrom. Preferably, as is seen best in Fig. 2, the outlet opening 15 has a plurality of filters 17 mounted therein and through which the discharge air must flow.

Intermediate the ends of the casing 10 a wall 18 is provided that extends from the top wall to the bottom wall of the casing and provides a forward compartment 19 therein and a rear compartment 20. The wall 18 is provided centrally with an opening 21 therethrough and is equipped with a laterally-extending annular flange 22 that surrounds the opening 21 and provides a housing for a fan 23 rotatably driven by a motor 24. The fan and motor combination provide a blower that is operative to draw air through the inlets 12, 13 and 14 of the casing, and to force it outwardly through the outlet opening 15. As is seen bestin Fig. 1, the motor 24 is supported by a bracket plate 25 secured to a V-shaped support member 26 rigidly secured to the casing 10. The motor is therefore suspended in the compartment or chamber 11 provided within the casing and the support structure aligns the fan 23 centrally in the fan housing 22.

As will be noted by reference to Fig. 1, a pair of conduits 27 and 28 extend outwardly from the end wall of the casing 10. The conduit 28 is somewhat larger in diameter than is the conduit 27, and carries refrigerant that has been expanded through the evaporator coils of a cooling unit into the interior of the casing 10 where it is compressed and cooled, as will be subsequently de scribed. After compressing and cooling of the refrigerant it is carried outwardly from the casing 10 to smaller conduit 27, and it is to be understood that suitable means will be provided to carry the refrigerant both to and from the evaporator coils which may be located remotely from the unit herein described. The conduit 28 merges with an enlarged conduit 29 that terminates in a suitable connection, indicated generally by the numeral 30, with a compressor 31. The compressor 31 is operative to compress the hot expanded refrigerant flowing through the tubes 28 and 29, and after being compressed the refrigerant is carried outwardly from the compressor 31 through conduit 32 to a manifold 33 having connected thereto the condenser unit 34 that is provided by a plurality of surpentine coils 35 supported in apertured plates 36. It should be understood that the condenser unit 34 and the coils 35 thereof may be conventional in all re spects and may be formed in any usual manner from such materials usually employed for this use. The cooled refrigerant leaves the condenser unit 34 through a manifold 37 connected with a conduit 38. The conduit 38 is in open communication with both the manifold 37 and a valve 39, and after passing through the valve 39 the compressed and cooled refrigerant flows through a valve 40 (Fig. 2) and from there through conduit 41 (Fig. 2) which merges with the outlet conduit 27 that is seen best in Fig. 1.

The compressor 31 is equipped with base flanges 42 that are apertured and receive therethrough studs that are carried in a base frame 43 of the casing 10. Springs 44 may be provided to absorb some of the vibration developed by operation of the compressor, and nuts 45 may be secured to the studs to hold the compressor 31 in position. The compressor 31 may also be conventional in all respects, and since such suitable compressors are well known in the art a further description of the one As can be seen best in Fig. 2, the compressor 31 is rotatably driven by a motor 46 that is also conventional and will not, therefore, be further described. It is noted that the fan motor 24, compressor 31 and motor 46 are all mounted within the compartment 20 provided by the intermediate wall 18, and are upstream of the fan 23.

Mounted within the casing 10 is a tray or pan 47 which provides a reservoir 48 therein adapted to receive and hold a liquid such as water. Water is introduced into the pan 47 through a water supply conduit 49 that is equipped with a valve 50 controlled by a float 51. When the float 51 is in the down position illustrated in Fig. 1, water will flow through the valve 50 and into the pan 47 until it reaches the level at which the float 51 will shut off the flow through the valve. The float 51 is operative to automatically maintain the level of the water within the pan 47 at a predetermined elevation. The valve 50 and float control 51 therefor, as well as the supply conduit, are old and well-known means of regulating a supply of water, and will not'be described further.

Mounted so that it extends downwardly into the pan 47 is a turbulator or fogger 52. The fogger 52 includes a motor 53 having an axially-extending shaft therethrough that projects outwardly from the ends of the motor 53 and has secured thereto a pair of relatively wide perforated wheels 54. As the motor 53 rotates the wheels 54, water is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force through the plurality of apertures provided in the peripheral surface of the wheels and is sprayed upon the condenser unit 34. The turbulator or fogger 52 is operative to provide a fine spray or mist or heavy fog within the forward compartment 19 of the casing 10, and the spray thus provided completely permeates the coils of the condenser 34 and liquid particles or droplets settle on the coils of the condenser and the refrigerant circulating therethrough.

Carried by the water pan 47 is a skimmer or overflow drain 55. The skimmer 55 has a cup-shaped portion 56 into which liquid may run and the cup 56 communicates with a tube 57 that extends through the end wall of the pan and thus the surface liquid picked up by the skimmer may be carried to waste. 'The skimmer 55 is operative to remove debris and various surface collections from the water within the pan 47. 7

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it is apparent that the pan 47 has a bottom wall 58, end walls 59 and 60, and side walls 61 and 62. The end walls and the side walls of the pan 47 extend upwardly at substantially right angles to the bottom wall 58 of the pan. It is apparent that the pan 47 is removably mounted within the casing 10 and may be withdrawn therefrom, when desired, to permit cleaning thereof. It is necessary to lower the for- .ward or innerend of the pan 47 when it is withdrawn from the casing so that it can move free of the turbulator 52 and float 51 that both depend into the pan. It is further necessary that the walls of the pan 47 sealingly engage portions of the casing 10 when mounted therein so that the water that is sprayed about the condenser coils and that drops downwardly therefrom is almost entirely recovered within the pan and is ready for reuse. It will be apparent that of the great quantity of water droplets that will be provided about the condenser by the action of the turbulator 52, only a small portion will be evaporated and the unevaporated water droplets will fall downwardly and into the pan 47 therebelow. It is desired to recover as much of this water as is possible so that the constant demand for fresh water'is held to a minimum and thereby the cost of cooling the condenser coils will be minimized. Since water costs form alarge percentage of the operational costs of the airconditioning apparatus, the operating costs will be considerably decreased if water use can be held to a minimum. This we achieve by recovering as much of the water as we can by providing a substantially sealed compartment 19 within the casing 10 and a seal about the pan 47 so that the water droplets will be 47. The wall 63 on the far side of the casing in the illustration of Fig. 1 is inclined sharply and is somewhat arcuate to provide adequate space for a manifold or collecter member 65 forming a part of the refrigerant circuit. The inwardly-extending flanges 63 are at an elevation slightly above'the upper edges of the walls 61 and 62 of the pan 47, and the depending flange 64 is inwardly of the side walls of the pan and extend downwardly and thereinto. Thus, when water fills the pan 47 it enters the space 66 between the depending flanges 64 and side walls of the tray 47. The water in this area is effective to provide a seal-a water sealthat prevents the moisture droplets from being discharged into the casing portion outside of the pan 47.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, it is seen that the end wall 59 of the tray 47 abuts the intermediate wall 18 provided within the casing 10. Since the turbulator 52 is arranged so that water is expelled therefrom forwardly and toward the condenser coils 34. there is little probability that water droplets will enter between the end wall 59 and intermediate wall 18 and flow therebetween and downwardly into the bottom of the casing. The end wall of the tray, however, does tightly abut the intermediate .wall 18 and thereby provides an effective seal. The end wall 60 of the tray 47 is in vertical alignment with the end wall of the casing 10 and the inwardly-turned lip 67 further insures that what moisture may impinge upon the wall of the casing will be brought inwardly and will drop into the pan 47. If desired, the inwardly-turned lip 67 may be provided by a channel-shaped member 68 also equipped with an inwardly-turned upper lip or flange 69 providing a support for the inwardly-extending end 70 of the duct 16.

We provide an arrangement for automatically seating the removable pan 47 in proper position when it is inserted into the interior of the casing 10. Such means includes an inclined guide 71 equipped at each end with flanges or walls 72. The inclined guide 71 may be formed integrally with the wall 18, and in such case a transverse support member 73 may be provided to further provide support for the wall 18. At the outer end, the tray 47 is provided with a channel support 74 that is adapted to seat upon the end channel 75 of the casing 10, as is illustrated in Fig. 4. With the structure described when it is desired to remove the tray 47 from the casing, the tray is pulled outwardly and the inner end thereof rides downwardly upon the inclined guide 71 and the end wall 59 and side walls of the tray drop to a position below the turbulator 52 and float 51, and are clear of these members so that the tray may be pulled outwardly. When the tray is inserted, the inner end rides upwardly upon the inclined wa1l71 and between the flanges 72 with which it is equipped, and when in position the tray is supported by the support channel 74 resting upon the frame channel 75 and upon the inturned shoulder portion 77 between the inclined guide wall 71 and wall 18. The skimmer 55 and drainpipe 57 therefor may be secured within the tray 47 in any suitable manner.

As can be seen best in Figs. 3 and 4, the turbulator motor 53 is supplied with power through cable 78 and, preferably, acasing or housing member 79 surrounds the wheels 54 of the turbulator and provides both a reservoir for the liquid in contact with the wheels'and also prevents water droplets from being discharged downwardly and laterally by the turbulator wheels. As is noted in Fig. 1, the casing 10 may have side walls that are formed in sections, such as the upper section wall 80 and lower casing wall 81 each of which is equipped with inwardly-turned flanges 82 and 83 which may be secured together by welding or riveting, etc. to provide a rigid structure.

Operation In operation, the package compressor and condenser unit may be located remotely from the evaporator coils in the refrigeration system and the room space or house that is to be cooled. Connection between the separate units is made through the conduits 27 and 28, one of which carries the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator coils while the other returns the expanded and hot refrigerant to the package unit where it is compressed and cooled. Refrigerant flows into the casing 10 through the pipe 28 and is carried into the compressor 31. After compression within the compressor 31 the refrigerant flows through the conduit 32 and from there through the condenser coils 35, where it is cooled. The refrigerant is then returned through manifold 37 and into collector member 65 and from there it is carried back to the conduit 27 and from there to the evaporator coils in the cooling unit, which is not shown.

During operation of the elements within the package unit, the fan 23 is rotated by the motor 24 and draws air through the casing inlet and over the compressor 31 where it cools it, and the air is then forced by the fan through the coils of the condenser 34 and from there outwardly through the duct 16. At the same time, the turbulator Wheels 54 are rotated rapidly by the motor 53 and water as needed is brought into the tray 47 through the float-equipped valve 50. The turbulator is operative to create a fine spray or mist within the forward compartment 19 of the casing and about the coils 35 of the condenser. The fine water droplets on the condenser coils readily evaporate and in so doing extract heat from the refrigerant within the coils. The flow of air through the coils of the condenser is operative both to cool the condenser coils directly and to facilitate and increase evaporation of the water droplets collected thereon, and the combination of air and evaporated moisture cools the coils efficiently and rapidly.

The forward compartment 19 of the casing is substantially filled with the fine spray or mist that is blown forwardly and onto the condenser coils by the fan 23. It will be apparent that all of the moisture droplets created will not evaporate completely, and to economize the use of Water the sealed compartment 19 is provided so that the excess moisture or water particles Will fall from the coils and be returned to the tray 47 where they will be used again in creating a further mist. The inwardly-extending walls 63 of the casing serve as drainboards for returning whatever liquid collects thereon to the tray 47.

A certain amount of foreign particles and debris inevitably collects upon the surface of the water within the tray 47 and the skimmer or overflow member 55 is operative to skim off the surface water of the liquid body Within the tray and to thereby keep it relatively clean. At the same time, the skimmer or overflow member 55 insures that the level of the liquid within the tray does not exceed a predetermined elevation. The tray 47 may be withdrawn from the casing for cleaning, etc. in the manner previously described, and during the withdrawing operation the tray is automatically dropped to a position below the turbulator and float member so that it will clear these members during the withdrawing of the tray. Upon insertion, the guide 71 and flanges 72 thereof are operative to automatically align the tray transversely in the casing 10 and to raise it to the proper elevation so that the sealprovided thereby with the inwardlyextending walls 63 and depending flanges 64 thereof of the casing is insured.

The control circuits for operating the elements within the casing 10 that have hereinbefore been described are housed within a casing or control box member 85 secured to the end wall of the casing 10 forming a part of the compartment 20 therein. Any suitable means for securing the control box 85 to the casing may be provided, and in the illustration the box 85 is equipped with flange members 86 that may be welded to the walls of the casing. A control circuit that may be mounted within the control box 85 is illustrated in Fig. 5 schematically,

and the motor units within the casing are illustrated diagrammatically in this figure. For the sake of convenience, the diagrammatic showing of these members are designated with the same numerals used before. The turbulator motor is designated by the numeral 53, the fan motor with the numeral 24, and the motor for operating the compressor has attached thereto the number 46. The circuit of Fig. is a 110 volt-220 volt S-phase circuit. The control box is indicated in Fig. 5 by the dotted lines 87. A switch 88 is provided outside of the control box 87 for closing the circuit. In the form shown, the turbulator motor 53 and fan motor 24 are operated on 110 volts carried through the lines 89 and 90. A safety fuse is not provided in these lead lines. The 220 volt 3-phase circuit is constituted by the leads 92 and 93 in conjunction with the line 89. The 220 volt 3-phase circuit operates the compressor motor 46. A starting arrange ment is provided for the compressor motor 46 and the starter is designated generally with the numeral 94. The starter 94 may include the potential relay 95 and starting condensers 96. Any conventional starter may be employed and, for example, an Allen Bradley starter has been found to work quite satisfactorily. Fuses 91 and 97 may also be provided, as well as a switch 98 that may, for example, be a Klixon switch. In the circuit of the compressor motor 46 a hi-low control 99 is included. The hi-low control is a pressure-operated arrangement that is eifective to interrupt the starter circuit when the pressure of the refrigerant reaches a predetermined value. The control 99 functions as a cut-out.

An alternate form of control circuit is illustrated in Fig. 6, and this circuit is a single-phase 110 volt-220 volt arrangement. The 110 volt input voltage is between the lead lines 100 and 101, while the 220 volts are provided between the lines 100 and 102. The motors in this circuit, which are shown diagrammatically, are indicated with the same numerals used in the circuit of Fig. 5 and in the description of the structure. Again, the fan motor 24 and turbulator motor 53 are operated on 110 volts, while the compressor motor 46 is operated on 220 volts. The portions of the circuit within the control box are enclosed in the dotted lines indicated by the numeral 103. The starter is enclosed within the dotted lines 104 and any conventional starter may be employed. Again in this circuit, an Allen Bradley starter has been found effective. The starter may include a coil 105, condenser 106, and fuse 107. Inserted with .the starter are starting capacitors 108 and a potential relay designated generally with the numeral 109. A

running capacitor 110 is also provided. A switch 111 is included in the circuit of the compressor motor 46, and the switch 111 may be a Klixon switch. A hi-low control 112 is also provided and is a cut-out that func tions in the same manner as does the hi-low control 99 described with reference to Fig. 5. Capacitors 113 may be included in the input lines of the circuit of Fig. 6 and a plurality of capacitors 114 may be used in the circuit shown in Fig. 5.

The circuits illustrated in both Figs. 5 and 6 are operative to supply power to the fan motor 24, turbulator motor 53, and compressor motor 46 to actuate these members when it is desired or necessary to run the compressor 31 etc. for cooling the refrigerant. The circuits are responsive to the requirements of the air conditioning system and provide proper and timed operation of the refrigerant cooling members.

.While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set out in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent that changes in these details may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a package unit for airconditioning systems and having a casing equipped with a compressor, condenser coils and blower for providing an air flow through the casing, a tray equipped with upwardly extending side walls and adapted to provide a reservoir for water, and a turbulator for providing a water spray about said condenser from the water within said tray, said casing providing a compartment therein for receiving said tray and having an opening in a wall thereof through which the tray is movable longitudinally into and out of said compartment, said casing being equipped with inwardly extending flanges having depending walls spaced inwardly of the side walls of said tray for extending downwardly in generally parallel relation therewith within the tray and terminating below the water level in the tray when the tray is within said compartment, whereby the water' equipped with an intermediate wall, and said tray is equipped with an upwardly-extending inner end wall that abuts said intermediate Wall.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said tray is equipped with an overflow having drain means extending through the outer end wall of said tray.

4. In a package unit for airconditioning systems having a casing, a condenser mounted therein, and turbulator means supported by said casing and being operative for providing a water spray about said condenser, a pan removably mounted within said casing and having upwardly-extending side and end walls defining a reservoir for water, means for supporting said pan in elevated position within said casing so that said turbulator means depends into the reservoir and is partially immersed when water is provided therein, and means for guiding the movement of said pan in and out of said casing while providing clearance of said turbulator means and including a guide in said casing adjacent the inner end of said pan and having a downwardly and rearwardlyinclined wall, the inner end of said pan being slidable on said inclined wall to raise it during insertion thereof to an elevated position and lower it during withdrawal thereof to clear said turbulator means.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which said guide is equipped with spaced-apart guide flanges adapted to receive said pan therebetween for positively orienting it transversely of said casing.

6. The structure of claim 4 in which said pan is equipped with a skimmer communicating with the exterior of said pan through the outer end thereof.

7. The structure of claim 4 in which said casing is equipped with inwardly-extending walls having at their inner edges depending flanges spaced inwardly of the side walls of said pan, said flanges being adapted 'to extend into said pan and to provide therewith a water seal when said pan has water therein and is elevated within said casing.

8. In a refrigerant cooler having a casing providing a compartment therein and having an opening in a wall thereof, a pan equipped with upwardly extending side and end walls defining a water receiving reservoir, said pan being movable through said opening into and out of said compartment, at least one turbulator member mounted within said compartment and being adapted to extend into said reservoir when said pan is in position Within said compartment, a guide member within said compartment and being engageable with the inner end of said pan during movement of the same into and out of the compartment, said guide member being constructed and arranged for guiding the inner end of said'pan downwardly during withdrawal and upwardly during insertion thereof in the compartment, and means for supporting said pan in an elevated position when within said compartment.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a casing defining ,a compartment therein adapted to have liquid particles dispersed therein and having an opening in a wall thereof, turbulator means supported by said casing and operative to disperse liquid particles therein, a tray movable through 'said opening into and out of said compartment below said turbulator means and being equipped with upwardly extending walls defining a liquid-receiving reservoir, said casing being provided with inwardly extending flanges having depending walls spaced inwardly of the side walls of said tray for extending downwardly and into the tray to terminate below the liquid level therein when the tray is within said compartment, whereby the liquid within said tray provides a water seal about said depending walls to prevent the escape of liquid.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a casing defining a compartment therein adapted to have liquid particles dispersed therein and having an opening in a wall thereof, a tray movable through said opening into and out of said compartment and being equipped with upwardly extending walls defining a liquid-receiving reservoir, said casing being provided with inwardly extending flanges having depending walls spaced inwardly of the side walls of said tray for extending downwardly and into the tray to terminate below the liquid level therein when the tray is within said compartment, whereby the liquid within said tray provides a water seal about said depending walls to prevent the escape of liquid, a guide member mounted within said compartment and being engageable with the inner end of said tray during movement thereof into and out of the compartment, said guide member being constructed and arranged for guiding the inner end of said tray downwardly during withdrawal thereof and upwardly during insertion thereof into the compartment, and means for supporting said tray in an elevated position when within said compare ment so that said depending walls extend downwardly and into said tray when the tray is in elevated position within said compartment.

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